PROGRAMME ON MAN AND THE BIOSPHERE (MAB) UNESCO

TRANSHUMANTS OF HIMALAYAS

CHANGAPS OF LADAKH, GADDIS OF HIMACHAL PRADESH AND BHUTIAS OF SIKKIM

VEENA BHASIN (University of Delhi, Delhi, India)

1996 • Pages: 280 • Size: 140 x 220 mm • ISBN 81-85264-16-3 • Binding: Hard • Price: US $ 55/- Rs. 750

The vast region known as the Himalayas with its valleys and varied altitude is the homeland of the people belonging to several linguistic, cultural and racial stocks. The distinctive physical environment of the mountains restricts economic processes. These basic features can be seen to have contributed to a series of altitudinal zones or niches that can be exploited in different ways. If man is to utilize environment fully, this vertical stratification of resources implies mobility among them. Transhumance is the seasonal movement from one ecological zone to another. Transhumance is a form of human adaptation to marginal and spatially variant environments directed towards optimizing the use of natural endowments changing overtime and varying in space. In the present volume an attempt is made to describe three transhumants groups - Changpas of Ladakh, Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh and Bhutias of Sikkim.

CONTENTS

 

1. Introduction


 2. Changpas of Ladakh –

Changpas of Chang-Thang, Ladakh; Making a Living, Domestic Units: Social Organization, The Ritual Life of Changpas; Concluding Remarks.


3. Gaddis of Himachal Pradesh –

Gaddis of Bharmour, Chamba District, Himachal Pradesh; Field Area; Size of Holding; Economic Pursuits, Environmental Conditions and Cultural Adaptations; Population of Bharmour Tehsil; Domestic Units, Social Interdependence; Caste System; Ceremonial Interactions; Concluding Remarks.


 4. Bhutias of Sikkim –

Transhumant Bhutias of Lachen and Lachung; Habitat and Economy; Domestic Units; Encampments; Social Network; Socio-Political System; Status of Women; Rituals and Festivities; Concluding Remarks.


 5. Summary


 References


Index

 

ƒ Rates in Rupees (Rs.) for India

Order to:

KAMLA-RAJ ENTERPRISES,  2273, GALI BARI PAHARWALI, CHAWRI  BAZAR, 

Post Box No. 1120, Delhi G. P. O., Delhi 110 006, India

Phone: 091-(0)11-23284126, Website: http://www.krepublishers.com, E-mail: kre@vsnl.com

HOME                                                                   BACK                                                                    NEXT